First time Canyon hikers are asked to view these National Park videos. There are many other helpful videos on YouTube.
WORKOUTS
In the Canyon, you will be hiking for at least 3 hours a day and over 3,000 feet elevation change on this itinerary, so you want to toughen up your feet in addition to strengthening your muscles. In the two months prior to the hike, while wearing your hiking boots/socks, schedule your training so that you can complete:
- hiking 5+ miles at a time (You should wear your loaded backpack (minimum of 25 pounds) on some of your workout hikes.)
- hiking up Thumb Butte Trail #33 in under 25 minutes *
- hiking up Granite Mountain or Weaver Mountain with ease *
- going up/down stairs (like from the basement of the hospital to the top floor) or the high school bleachers for 30 to 45 minutes a couple times a week. (This is for strengthening your muscles and for getting a cardio workout.)
FINAL PREPARATION
- One week prior to the hike, trim your toenails. Cut them down as far as you can, not just your normal trim. You do this a week before so that if you cut too close they have time to recover before the trip.
- Three days prior to the hike, do some calf raises.
- Day before the hike, hydrate!
- Night before and morning of trip, take ibuprofen.
*For those living in or near Prescott, Arizona.